Energy Storage Apparatus

The present invention relates to an energy storage apparatus.

Patent Literature 1 discloses an energy storage system in which an energy storage unit obtained by assembling a plurality of pouch-type capacitor cells to a frame into a unit is accommodated in a housing.

Patent Document 1: JP-A-2007-110035

If the energy storage unit moves in the housing, the energy storage unit may collide with the housing and be damaged.

The present invention has been made by the inventor of the present application with a new focus on the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to enhance vibration resistance or impact resistance of an energy storage apparatus.

An energy storage apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes an energy storage unit and an outer case that accommodates the energy storage unit. The energy storage unit includes a plurality of energy storage devices arrayed in a predetermined direction, and a first holding member that is adjacent to the plurality of energy storage devices in the predetermined direction and holds the plurality of energy storage devices, and the first holding member is joined to the outer case.

According to the present invention, the vibration resistance or impact resistance of the energy storage apparatus can be enhanced.

(1) An energy storage apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes an energy storage unit and an outer case that accommodates the energy storage unit. The energy storage unit includes a plurality of energy storage devices arrayed in a predetermined direction, and a first holding member that is adjacent to the plurality of energy storage devices in the predetermined direction and holds the plurality of energy storage devices, and the first holding member is joined to the outer case.

According to the energy storage apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, since the first holding member provided at the end portion of the energy storage unit is joined to the outer case, the energy storage unit is fixed on at least one side in the outer case. Accordingly, the energy storage unit is stabilized inside the outer case. Accordingly, it is possible to enhance the vibration resistance or impact resistance of the energy storage apparatus.

(2) In the energy storage apparatus described in (1), the outer case may include an outer case body having an opening in one end portion in the predetermined direction, and an outer case lid body that is attached to the one end portion of the outer case body and closes the opening.

According to the energy storage apparatus described in (2), since the energy storage unit is accommodated in the outer case body having an opening in one end portion in a predetermined direction, when the first holding member is disposed on the other end portion of the energy storage unit in the predetermined direction, the first holding member can be joined to the bottom portion of the outer case body.

That is, when the energy storage unit is accommodated in the outer case body, the first holding member provided at the other end portion of the energy storage unit can be joined to the outer case body. On the other hand, when the first holding member is disposed at one end portion of the energy storage unit in the predetermined direction, the first holding member can be joined to the outer case lid body. That is, when the outer case lid body is attached to one end portion of the outer case body, the first holding member provided at one end portion of the energy storage unit can be joined to the outer case lid body. In this manner, the first holding member provided at the end portion of the energy storage unit can be smoothly joined to the outer case.

(3) In the energy storage apparatus described in (1) or (2), the energy storage unit further may include a second holding member that holds the plurality of energy storage devices, and the second holding member is disposed at a position where the second holding member interposes the plurality of energy storage devices together with the first holding member in the predetermined direction, and is joined to the outer case.

According to the energy storage apparatus described in (3), since the plurality of energy storage devices are sandwiched and held by the first and second holding members, the plurality of energy storage devices are further stabilized inside the outer case by the first and second holding members. Further, since the first holding member is joined to the outer case lid body and the second holding member is joined to the outer case body, the energy storage unit is fixed on both sides in the outer case. Accordingly, it is possible to further enhance the vibration resistance or impact resistance of the energy storage apparatus.

(4) In the energy storage apparatus described in (3), a gap may be formed between at least one of the first holding member and the second holding member and the outer case at positions corresponding to the plurality of energy storage devices.

According to the energy storage apparatus described in (4), a gap is formed between at least one of the first holding member and the second holding member and the outer case at a position corresponding to the plurality of energy storage devices and hence, the expansion of the plurality of energy storage devices can be absorbed by the gap. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the deformation of the outer case caused by the expansion of the plurality of energy storage devices. (5) In the energy storage apparatus described in (4), a circuit board may be disposed in the gap.

According to the energy storage apparatus described in (5), since the circuit board is disposed in the gap between at least one of the first holding member and the second holding member and the outer case, the circuit board can be accommodated without providing a dedicated member for covering the circuit board. If a dedicated member is unnecessary, the weight can be reduced, whereby the vibration resistance or the impact resistance can be further enhanced.

Further, when a dedicated member is unnecessary, space saving in the outer case is also possible, and the energy storage apparatus can be downsized.

An energy storage apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention (including its modification) will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the embodiment described below shows a comprehensive or specific example. Numerical values, shapes, materials, constituent elements, placement positions and connection modes of the constituent elements, and the like presented in the following embodiment are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. In each drawing, dimensions and the like are not strictly shown.

In the following description and drawings, the arrangement direction of the outer case body and the outer case lid body of the outer case of an energy storage apparatus or the arrangement direction of a plurality of energy storage devices provided in the energy storage apparatus is defined as an X-axis direction. The projecting direction of each lead terminal of the energy storage device is defined as a Y-axis direction. The arrangement direction or vertical direction of a pair of lead terminals provided for the energy storage device is defined as a Z-axis direction. The X-axis direction is an example of a predetermined direction. The X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction are directions intersecting (orthogonal in the following embodiments and modifications thereof) each other.

Although the Z-axis direction may not be the vertical direction depending on a usage aspect, the Z-axis direction will be described below as the vertical direction for convenience of description. In the following description, an X-axis positive direction indicates the arrow direction side of the X axis, and an X-axis negative direction indicates an opposite side to the X-axis positive direction. The same applies to the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction. Furthermore, expressions indicating relative directions or postures, such as parallel and orthogonal, strictly include cases where the directions or postures are not the same. Two directions being orthogonal to each other not only means that the two directions are completely orthogonal to each other, but also means that the two directions are substantially orthogonal to each other, that is, the two directions include a difference of about several percent. In the following description, the expression “insulation” means “electrical insulation”.

1 2 FIGS.and 1 FIG. 2 FIG. 1 1 1 With reference to, an overall description of an energy storage apparatusaccording to an embodiment is made.is a perspective view showing an external appearance of the energy storage apparatusaccording to the embodiment.is an exploded perspective view showing each constituent element when the energy storage apparatusaccording to the embodiment is disassembled.

1 1 1 1 The energy storage apparatusis an apparatus that can charge electricity from the outside and discharge electricity to the outside and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape in the present embodiment. For example, the energy storage apparatusis a battery module (assembled battery) used for power storage applications, power supply applications, and the like. More specifically, the energy storage apparatusis used as, for example, a battery for driving or starting the engine of a moving body such as an automobile, a motorcycle, a watercraft, a ship, a snowmobile, an agricultural machine, a construction machine, or a railway vehicle for an electric railway. Examples of the automobile include an electric vehicle (EV), a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), and a fossil fuel (gasoline, light oil, liquefied natural gas, or the like) vehicle. Examples of the railway vehicle for an electric railway include a train, a monorail, a linear motor car, and a hybrid train including both a diesel engine and an electric motor. In addition, the energy storage apparatuscan also be used as a stationary battery or the like used for home use, business use, or the like.

1 2 FIGS.and 1 20 10 20 10 11 20 12 11 As shown in, the energy storage apparatusincludes an energy storage unitand an outer casethat accommodates the energy storage unit. The outer caseincludes an outer case bodythat accommodates the energy storage unitand an outer case lid bodythat closes the outer case body.

10 1 10 20 The outer caseis a case (module case) having a rectangular shape (box shape) that forms the outer case of the energy storage apparatus. That is, the outer caseis a member that fixes the energy storage unitand the like at predetermined positions and protects these elements from an impact or the like.

11 11 111 111 20 20 111 11 The outer case bodyis a bottomed rectangular cylindrical member that is opened in the X-axis positive direction, and an opening portion of the outer case bodyis an opening. The openinghas a substantially quadrangular shape in plan view (as viewed in the X-axis direction). In addition to the energy storage unit, a plurality of bus bars (not illustrated) and fuses (not illustrated) held by the energy storage unitare accommodated in the openingof the outer case body.

12 111 11 11 111 11 35 12 111 35 11 12 12 81 81 21 20 35 1 81 81 An outer case lid bodyis a member that closes the openingof the outer case bodyand is joined to the outer case bodyin a state where the openingof the outer case bodyis closed from the X-axis positive direction. A circuit boardis disposed at a position corresponding to the outer case lid bodyoutside the opening. That is, the circuit boardis accommodated between the outer case bodyand the outer case lid body. The outer case lid bodyhas a pair of (positive electrode and negative electrode) external terminals. The external terminalsare electrically connected to the plurality of energy storage devicesincluded in the energy storage unitvia the bus bars, the fuses, and the circuit board. The energy storage apparatuscharges electricity from the outside and discharges electricity to the outside through the external terminals. The external terminalis formed of a conductive member made of a metal such as a copper alloy such as brass, copper, aluminum, or an aluminum alloy.

81 21 Each bus bar is a plate-like member that electrically connects the external terminaland the energy storage deviceto each other. Each of the bus bars is formed of a conductive member made of a metal such as copper, a copper alloy, aluminum, or an aluminum alloy.

35 21 The fuse is a member that protects the circuit board, the plurality of energy storage devices, and the like from a large current equal to or higher than a rated current. When a current equal to or higher than the rated current flows, the fuse is fused to cut off the flow of the current.

35 21 35 The circuit boardincludes a plurality of electric components (not illustrated), and a detection circuit that detects a state (temperature, voltage, current, or the like) of each energy storage device, a control circuit that controls charge and discharge, and the like are formed by the plurality of electric components. The circuit boardmay include at least one of a detection circuit and a control circuit.

11 12 10 10 21 10 21 11 12 The outer case bodyand the outer case lid bodyof the outer caseare formed of an insulating member such as polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), a polyphenylene sulfide resin (PPS), polyphenylene ether (PPE (including modified PPE)), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether (PFA), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyether sulfone (PES), polyamide (PA), or an ABS resin, or a composite material thereof, an insulation-coated metal, or the like. With such a configuration, the outer caseprevents the energy storage devicesand the like from coming into contact with an external metal member or the like. The outer casemay be formed of a conductive member made of a metal or the like as long as the electric insulation property of the energy storage deviceand the like is maintained. The outer case bodyand the outer case lid bodymay be formed of the same material or different materials.

20 21 22 21 The energy storage unitincludes the plurality of energy storage devicesand a holding portionthat holds the plurality of energy storage devices.

21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 The energy storage deviceis a secondary battery (battery cell) capable of charging and discharging electricity, and more specifically, is a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery such as a lithium ion secondary battery. In the present embodiment, the energy storage deviceis a pouch-type energy storage device having a flat shape, and a plurality of (in the present embodiment, four) pouch-type energy storage devicesare arranged side by side in the X-axis direction. The energy storage deviceis not limited to a pouch-type energy storage device but may be an energy storage device having a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape (square shape), a cylindrical shape, an oval columnar shape, an elliptic columnar shape, or the like, and the size and the shape thereof are not limited. The number of the arranged energy storage devicesis also not particularly limited. The energy storage deviceis not limited to a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery and may be a secondary battery other than the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, or may be a capacitor. The energy storage devicemay be not a secondary battery but a primary battery that allows the user to use stored electricity without charged electricity. The plurality of energy storage devicesare arranged in the X-axis direction, and the adjacent energy storage devicesmay be joined to each other by an adhesive or a double-sided tape or may not be joined to each other. The details of the energy storage devicewill be described later.

22 21 22 23 24 21 23 23 24 23 21 21 21 24 21 21 21 23 24 21 23 21 21 The holding portionis a portion that holds the plurality of energy storage devices. The holding portionincludes a holding memberand a holding memberthat holds the plurality of energy storage devicestogether with the holding member. The holding memberis an example of a second holding member, and holding memberis an example of a first holding member. To be more specific, the holding memberis disposed in the X-axis negative direction of the plurality of energy storage devicesand is joined to the energy storage devicedisposed at an end portion of the plurality of energy storage devicesin the X-axis negative direction by an adhesive agent or a double-sided tape. The holding memberis disposed in the X-axis positive direction of the plurality of energy storage devicesand is joined to the energy storage devicedisposed at an end portion of the plurality of energy storage devicesin the X-axis positive direction by an adhesive agent or a double-sided tape. With such a configuration, the holding memberand the holding memberhold the plurality of energy storage devicesby sandwiching the plurality of energy storage devices in the X-axis direction. The holding memberis disposed opposite to the central portion of the energy storage devicedisposed at the end portion in the X-axis negative direction, so that the plurality of energy storage devicescan be more stably held.

24 21 21 The same applies to the holding member. The central portion of the energy storage devicein the Z-axis direction is, for example, three intermediate regions obtained by dividing the energy storage deviceinto five equal parts in the Z-axis direction, two intermediate regions obtained by dividing the energy storage device into four equal parts, or one intermediate region obtained by dividing the energy storage device into three equal parts. The same applies to the Y-axis direction.

23 24 21 23 24 21 11 12 21 23 24 At least one of the holding membersandmay not be joined to the energy storage device. Even in this case, the holding membersandcan hold the plurality of energy storage devicesby the sandwiching force received from the outer case bodyand the outer case lid body. Alternatively, the plurality of energy storage devicesmay be held by fastening a screw bridged between the holding memberand the holding member.

23 24 23 24 21 23 24 The holding membersandare formed of an insulating member such as polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), a polyphenylene sulfide resin (PPS), polyphenylene ether (PPE (including modified PPE)), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether (PFA), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyether sulfone (PES), polyamide (PA), an ABS resin, or a composite material thereof. As a result, the holding membersandsuppress the conduction of the plurality of energy storage deviceswith a conductive member such as an external metal member. If, however, there is no such need, the holding membersandmay be formed of a conductive member such as a metal.

23 25 21 26 25 26 25 The holding memberincludes a flat plate portionthat overlaps the energy storage deviceat an end portion in the X-axis negative direction and a bus bar support portionthat extends in the X-axis positive direction from the flat plate portion. The bus bar support portionextends in the X-axis positive direction from the corner portion of the flat plate portionwhich is located between the Y-axis negative direction and the Z-axis negative and supports a bus bar (not shown).

24 27 21 28 27 27 35 29 35 27 The holding memberincludes a substrate support portionthat overlaps the energy storage deviceat an end portion in the X-axis positive direction and a detection line support portionthat extends in the X-axis negative direction from the substrate support portion. The substrate support portionsupports the circuit boardand has a surrounding wallsurrounding the circuit board. The substrate support portionsupports a bus bar and a fuse (not illustrated).

28 36 35 21 28 27 The detection line support portionis a portion that supports a plurality of detection linesconnected to the circuit boardin order to detect a state (temperature, voltage, current, or the like) of each energy storage device. The detection line support portionextends in the X-axis negative direction from an end portion of the substrate support portionin the Y-axis negative direction.

21 21 21 21 21 21 2 FIG. The details of the energy storage devicewill be described below. As shown in, the plurality of energy storage deviceshave the same basic structure but are partially different in outer shape. To be more specific, the outer shapes of the odd-numbered energy storage devicesin the order from the X-axis negative direction and the even-numbered energy storage devicesin the order from the X-axis negative direction are partially different from each other. That is, the odd-numbered energy storage deviceshave the same outer shape, and the even-numbered energy storage deviceshave the same outer shape.

21 21 210 220 210 21 The basic structure of the energy storage devicewill be described. The energy storage deviceincludes an exterior filmand a pair of (positive electrode and negative electrode) lead terminals, and an electrode assembly (not shown), an electrolyte solution (nonaqueous electrolyte: not shown), and the like are accommodated in the exterior film. The type of electrolyte solution is not particularly limited as long as it does not impair the performance of the energy storage device, and a known material can be used as needed.

210 210 220 220 210 The exterior filmis a sheet-like outer case formed of a laminate film and hermetically accommodates therein an electrode assembly, an electrolyte solution, and the like in a decompressed state. The exterior filmis formed by stacking two rectangular laminate films in the X-axis direction. The two laminate films are joined (sealed) by thermal welding or the like with the pair of lead terminalsinterposed therebetween. At portions of the two laminate films which do not correspond to the pair of lead terminals, the two laminate films are joined (sealed) to each other by thermal welding or the like. The laminate film is a flexible film formed of a plurality of layers including a metal layer made of aluminum or the like and a resin layer made of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), or the like, and a resin layer is disposed at a welded portion (seal portion). The exterior filmmay be configured by forming one sheet of laminate film into a bag shape and joining end portions of the laminate film to each other by thermal welding.

220 210 210 220 210 220 220 220 21 21 220 The lead terminalis a conductive plate-like member (lead plate) electrically connected to the electrode assembly and is disposed to be exposed from the exterior filmin a state of penetrating the exterior film. In the present embodiment, the pair of lead terminalsarranged side by side in the Z-axis direction are disposed so as to protrude in the Y-axis negative direction from the end portion of the exterior filmin the Y-axis negative direction. Specifically, the lead terminalof the positive electrode is a lead terminal electrically connected to the positive electrode plate of the electrode assembly, and the lead terminalof the negative electrode is a lead terminal electrically connected to the negative electrode plate of the electrode assembly. The lead terminalis a metal electrode terminal for leading out electricity stored in the electrode assembly to a space outside the energy storage deviceand for introducing electricity into a space inside the energy storage devicefor storing electricity in the electrode assembly. The lead terminalis made of aluminum, an aluminum alloy, copper, a copper alloy, or the like.

The electrode assembly is an energy storage element (power generating element) formed by stacking a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator. The positive electrode plate is formed by forming a positive active material layer on a current collecting foil made of metal such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The negative electrode plate is obtained by forming a negative active material layer on a current collecting foil made of metal such as copper or a copper alloy. As an active material used for the positive active material layer and the negative active material layer, a known material can be appropriately used as long as it can occlude and release lithium ions. As the separator, a microporous sheet or nonwoven fabric made of a resin can be used. In the present embodiment, the electrode assembly is formed by stacking plates (a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate) in the X axis direction. The electrode assembly may be an electrode assembly in any form such as a wound electrode assembly formed by winding plates (a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate), a stacking-type (stack-type) electrode assembly formed by stacking a plurality of plate-shaped plates, or a bellows-type electrode assembly formed by folding the plates in a bellows shape.

10 20 3 FIG. 3 FIG. 1 FIG. A joining structure between the outer caseand the energy storage unitwill be described.is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a joining structure between an outer case and an energy storage unit according to the embodiment. Specifically,is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along line III-III in.

3 FIG. 23 20 11 10 11 113 112 111 113 112 113 11 11 a As shown in, the holding memberof the energy storage unitis joined to the outer case bodyof the outer case. To be more specific, in the outer case body, a bottom framethat projects in the X-axis positive direction is formed on an inner bottom surfacethat faces the openingin the X-axis direction. The bottom frameis provided continuously or intermittently along the entire peripheral edge of the inner bottom surface. The bottom frameis disposed at a predetermined interval from the inner surfaceof the outer case body.

25 23 251 251 25 251 252 113 252 253 252 113 253 The peripheral edge of the flat plate portionof the holding memberis provided with an edge portioncontinuously or intermittently along the entire periphery. The edge portionprotrudes from both sides of the flat plate portionin the X axis direction. On an end surface of the edge portionin the X-axis negative direction, a first grooveis formed continuously or intermittently along the entire periphery. The bottom frameis inserted into first groovethrough an adhesive. The first grooveand the bottom frameare joined to each other by being wholly or partially bonded with the adhesive.

24 20 12 10 12 123 121 111 The holding memberof the energy storage unitis joined to the outer case lid bodyof the outer case. To be more specific, in the outer case lid body, a lid framethat projects in the X-axis negative direction is formed on an inner top surfacethat faces the openingin the X-axis positive direction.

123 121 123 12 12 124 123 12 12 29 24 124 243 29 24 124 12 243 a a The lid frameis annularly continuous in the inner top surface. The lid frameis disposed at a predetermined interval from an inner surfaceof the outer case lid body. A second grooveis formed by the lid frameand an inner surfaceof the outer case lid body. A distal end portion (an end portion in the X-axis positive direction) of the surrounding wallof the holding memberis inserted into the second groovethrough an adhesive. The surrounding wallof the holding memberis joined to the second grooveof the outer case lid bodywith an adhesiveover the entire periphery.

23 11 24 12 20 10 1 27 12 1 21 1 27 21 12 21 1 12 35 29 1 29 124 12 243 29 As described above, since the holding memberis joined to the outer case bodyand the holding memberis joined to the outer case lid body, the energy storage unitis fixed to both sides inside the outer case. In this state, a gap Sis formed between the substrate support portionand the outer case lid body. The gap Sis disposed at a position corresponding to the plurality of energy storage devicesas viewed in the X-axis direction. That is, the gap Sis formed between the portion of the substrate support portionwhich faces the energy storage devicesand the outer case lid body. Even if the plurality of energy storage devicesexpand, since the gap Sabsorbs the expansion, the expansion is hardly transmitted to the outer case lid body. The circuit boardis disposed inside the surrounding wallin the gap S. As described above, since the distal end portion of the surrounding wallis bonded to the second grooveof the outer case lid bodyover the entire periphery with the adhesive, the internal space of the surrounding wallis sealed.

20 10 253 113 11 252 23 20 11 20 11 111 113 252 252 113 253 When the energy storage unitis assembled to the outer caseat the time of manufacture, first, an operator applies the adhesiveto the bottom frameof the outer case bodyor the first grooveof the holding member. Thereafter, the operator arranges the energy storage unitin the X-axis positive direction of the outer case bodyand moves the energy storage unitin the X-axis negative direction to accommodate the energy storage unit in the outer case bodythrough the opening. At the time of this accommodation, the bottom frameis inserted into the first groove. Accordingly, the first grooveand the bottom frameare bonded to each other with the adhesive.

243 124 12 29 24 Next, the operator applies the adhesiveto the second grooveof the outer case lid bodyor the surrounding wallof the holding member.

12 11 12 12 11 29 24 124 124 29 243 11 12 124 29 210 21 21 23 24 23 24 21 21 21 23 24 21 Thereafter, the operator disposes the outer case lid bodyin the X-axis positive direction of the outer case bodyand moves the outer case lid bodyin the X-axis negative direction to assemble and bond the outer case lid bodyto the outer case body. At this time, the surrounding wallof the holding memberis inserted into the second groove. As a result, the second grooveand the surrounding wallare bonded with the adhesive. That is, the bonding between the outer case bodyand the outer case lid bodyand the bonding between the second grooveand the surrounding wallare performed in the same step. In particular, since the exterior filmof the energy storage deviceis formed of a flexible laminate film, the energy storage deviceand the holding membersandcan be more closely attached to each other. That is, the holding membersandcan firmly hold the energy storage device. Further, when the plurality of energy storage devicesare arranged side by side in the X-axis direction, the adjacent energy storage devicescan be brought into close contact with each other. That is, the holding membersandcan firmly hold the plurality of energy storage devices.

20 10 29 24 124 12 20 11 113 11 232 23 The energy storage unitmay be assembled to the outer casein a reverse process to the above-mentioned process. That is, after the surrounding wallof the holding memberis bonded to the second groove portionof the outer case lid body, the energy storage unitmay be inserted into the outer case bodyso that the bottom frameof the outer case bodyand the first grooveof the holding memberare bonded to each other.

24 20 10 20 10 20 10 1 As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the holding memberprovided at the end portion of the energy storage unitis joined to the outer case, the energy storage unitis fixed on at least one side in the outer case. Accordingly, the energy storage unitis stabilized inside the outer case. Accordingly, it is possible to enhance the vibration resistance or impact resistance of the energy storage apparatus.

20 11 23 20 11 20 11 12 11 24 20 12 23 24 20 10 Since the energy storage unitis accommodated in the outer case bodyhaving an opening in one end portion in a predetermined direction (X-axis direction), the holding memberprovided at the other end portion of the energy storage unitcan be joined to the outer case bodyonly by accommodating the energy storage unitin the outer case body. Further, when the outer case lid bodyis attached to one end portion of the outer case body, the holding memberprovided at one end portion of the energy storage unitcan be joined to the outer case lid body. In this manner, the holding membersandprovided at the end portion of the energy storage unitcan be smoothly joined to the outer case.

21 23 24 21 10 23 24 24 12 23 11 20 10 1 Since the plurality of energy storage devicesare sandwiched and held by the holding membersand, the plurality of energy storage devicesare further stabilized inside the outer caseby the holding membersand. Further, since the holding memberis joined to the outer case lid bodyand the holding memberis joined to the outer case body, the energy storage unitis fixed on both sides in the outer case. Accordingly, it is possible to further enhance the vibration resistance or impact resistance of the energy storage apparatus.

1 24 12 21 21 1 10 21 Since the gap Sis formed between the holding memberand the outer case lid bodyat the position corresponding to the plurality of energy storage devices, the expansion of the plurality of energy storage devicescan be absorbed by the gap S. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the deformation of the outer casecaused by the expansion of the plurality of energy storage devices.

35 1 35 35 10 1 Since the circuit boardis disposed in the gap S, the circuit boardcan be accommodated without providing a dedicated member for covering the circuit board. If a dedicated member is unnecessary, the weight can be reduced, whereby the vibration resistance or the impact resistance can be further enhanced. Further, when a dedicated member is unnecessary, space saving in the outer caseis also possible, and the energy storage apparatuscan be downsized.

Hereinafter, the first modification of the above embodiment will be described. In the following description, the same parts as those in the above embodiment or other modification examples are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof may be omitted.

20 23 24 4 FIG. 4 FIG. 3 FIG. In the above-mentioned embodiment, the energy storage unitthat includes the pair of holding membersand the pair of holding membersis exemplified. In the first modification, an energy storage unit including only one holding member will be described.is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a joining structure between an outer case and an energy storage unit according to the first modification. Specifically,is a diagram corresponding to.

4 FIG. 20 24 23 20 21 253 21 112 11 21 112 20 10 a As shown in, an energy storage unitA includes the holding memberthat is the first holding member but does not include the holding memberthat is the second holding member. Accordingly, an end portion of the energy storage unitA in the X-axis negative direction becomes the first energy storage devicein the X-axis negative direction. An adhesiveis interposed between the first energy storage deviceand the inner bottom surfaceof the outer case body, and the energy storage deviceand the inner bottom surfaceare bonded and joined to each other. That is, also in this case, the energy storage unitA is fixed on both sides in the outer case.

Although the energy storage apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment. That is, the embodiment disclosed herein is exemplary in all respects and not exhaustive, and the scope of the present invention includes all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

24 23 23 24 23 24 21 12 In the above embodiment, the holding memberis an example of the first holding member, and the holding memberis an example of the second holding member. However, the relationship between the first holding member and the second holding member may be reversed. Specifically, the holding membermay be an example of the first holding member, and the holding membermay be an example of the second holding member. For example, when the holding memberis an example of the first holding member, the holding memberis removed as in the first modification, and the fourth energy storage devicecan be joined (bonded) to the outer case lid body.

Further, as long as the first holding member is joined to the outer case, the second holding member may not be joined to the outer case. Even in this case, since the energy storage unit is fixed inside the outer case, the energy storage unit is stabilized in the outer case. Accordingly, it is possible to enhance the vibration resistance or impact resistance of the energy storage apparatus.

In the above embodiment, bonding has been exemplified as a method of joining objects to each other. However, the objects to be joined may be joined by a method other than bonding. Other methods include welding and fixing with bolts and nuts.

The above-mentioned embodiment has exemplified the case where the gap

1 27 24 12 23 112 11 21 24 12 23 11 Sis formed between the substrate support portionof the holding memberand the outer case lid body. However, a gap may be formed between the holding memberand the inner bottom surfaceof the outer case body. Even with this gap, the expansion of the energy storage devicecan be absorbed, and the deformation of the outer case caused by the expansion can be suppressed. The gap may be formed at least between the holding memberand the outer case lid bodyor between the holding memberand the outer case body. The gap may not be provided.

35 1 27 24 12 23 112 11 35 The above-mentioned embodiment has exemplified the case where the circuit boardis disposed in the gap Sbetween the substrate support portionof the holding memberand the outer case lid body. When a gap is formed between the holding memberand the inner bottom surfaceof the outer case body, the circuit boardmay be disposed in the gap. The circuit board may not be disposed in the gap.

11 111 The above-mentioned embodiment has exemplified the outer case bodyhaving the openingin the end portion in the X-axis direction (predetermined direction). For example, the outer case body may have an opening in the end portion in a direction intersecting the X-axis direction.

A mode constructed by arbitrarily combining the constituent elements included in the embodiment and the modification thereof is also included in the scope of the present invention.

The present invention can be applied to an energy storage apparatus or the like including an energy storage device such as a lithium ion secondary battery.

1 : energy storage apparatus 10 : outer case 11 : outer case body 11 12 a, a : inner surface 12 : outer case lid body 20 20 ,A: energy storage unit 21 : energy storage device 22 : holding portion 23 : holding member (second holding member) 24 : holding member (first holding member) 25 : flat plate portion 26 : bus bar support portion 27 : substrate support portion 28 : detection line support portion 29 : surrounding wall 35 : circuit board 36 : detection line 81 : external terminal 111 : opening 112 : inner bottom surface 113 : bottom frame 121 : inner top surface 123 : lid frame 124 : second groove 210 : exterior film 220 : lead terminal 243 253 253 a ,,: adhesive 251 : edge portion 252 : first groove 1 S: gap